Tucked away in the hills of Kabale and Kisoro districts in south-western Uganda near the border with Rwanda, lake Bunyonyi “Place of many little birds” is one of the places made to take our breath away. Believed to be the second deepest lake in Africa estimated to be 44m to 900m deep, the lake has one of the most beautiful views that are worth the five-hour drive from Kampala.
The lake is estimated to be 25km long and 7km wide and with an altitude of 6,437ft. It is surrounded by hills that are 7,218 to 8,130ft high. From 2004 to 2009, the lake appeared on the 5,000 Ugandan shilling note under the title “Lake Bunyonyi and terraces. The stunning terraced hills look exceedingly beautiful especially when viewed from an aerial point due to the farming activities carried out by the people who live in this area.
However, it is the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical to view especially a morning aerial view with mist slightly rising off the surface of the lake, hiding part of the islands. These islands such as the punishment Island and Bushara Island have mystical stories behind both their formation and existence. Some islands are inhabited by the locals well as others look deserted yet many are terraced and cultivated.
Talking about punishment island, the Bakiga used to leave unmarried pregnant girls on this small island with intention for them to die of hunger or die while trying to swim to the mainland (swimming skills were rare). This was to intimidate the rest, to show them not to do the same. A man without cows to pay the bride price could go to the island and pick up a girl. The practice got abandoned in the first half of the 20th century.
When the islands are seen from a distance, it is easy to think that one is somewhere in the Maldives without the coral of the ocean. One of the best locations to view them throughout the day is up in the hills. You can take a day from dawn to dusk and watch how they always seem to emerge from the shadows of the morning and glow throughout the day and gaze at the reflections of the stars in the sky dancing over the lake at night.
The largest population of people in the area are Bakiga and Batwa who have resided here for centuries and live by cultivating the land and rearing cattle. The population majorly used the lake for farm water, transport, with some fishing done at specific parts of the lake though smaller fish varieties inhabit the lake’s waters. The swamps around the lake provide raw materials for the art industry with locals fetching materials for basket making, weaving, crafts and clay for pottery.
The lake enjoys moderate temperatures year-round, cool in both the mornings and evenings, with rain and mildly hot days coming through the months. The conditions around this area are suitable for farming and, best of all, vacationing for tourists. As is always the case all over Uganda, the residents around Lake Bunyonyi are very hostable and welcoming.
True to its name, ‘Place of many little birds’ the lake is home a number of bird species that fly over the lake and islands while singing and chattering all day long. Some of them are indigenous to the area while others migrate in. With over 200 indigenous bird species, the lake is a spectacular place for any birding enthusiast looking forward to having the best of experiences. Bird watches would be amazed by what they would find here at any time of the day.
Most of the shores and neighboring areas around Lake Bunyonyi are hilly and forested, which makes them viable for good nature walks. You can enjoy a day communing with nature or hike up one of the hills especially in the morning or evening when the weather is cool and breezy.
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